Boychuk, after seven games and zero points with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is a Predator. Nashville, desperate for players who seem like they could maybe score goals at some point, picked him up on Tuesday. Nashville's 1.96 goals per game is the worst in the NHL, and Gabby Bourque leads the team with six.

Zach Boychuk had no points in seven games after the Penguins picked him up on Jan. 31. (AP Photo)

A two-time 20-plus goal scorer in the AHL, Boychuk, 23, hasn't yet been able to make the transition to the NHL. He has seven goals and 11 assists in 72 games with the Carolina Hurricanes, spread out over three seasons. In 37 games with the Charlotte Checkers this season, he had a team-high 16 goals and added 16 assists before the Penguins picked him up.

At the time, he put Pittsburgh's total attempts at finding another wing for Malkin or Sidney Crosby in the high 20s. Crosby is currently set well enough with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, but Malkin and James Neal need a third, and Boychuk got his shot. It didn't work. Now, the team is turning again to rookie Beau Bennett, recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh also put signed veteran bottom-six winger Tom Kostopolous and put him on waivers. If he clears, he'll join the team on Wednesday.

In other waiver-wire news, Washington cut bait with veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik. He annoyed teammate Troy Brouwer (among others) during the lockout by questioning the NHLPA's leadership. More relevantly, he was left-handed; coach Adam Oates wants defenseman to play on their strong side, and there are four other left Caps blue liners.

Hamrlik, 38, had been a healthy scratch in 16 of the Capitals' 20 games this season, and carries a $3.5 million cap hit. Any team can pick him until tomorrow. If he goes unclaimed, the Caps are free to send him to their AHL affiliate in Hershey, Pa.